Gerbera plant named ‘Garsurprise’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Gerbera  plant named ‘Garsurprise’, characterized by its compact, broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; numerous inflorescences with dark red purple-colored ray florets; upright and strong scapes; and good garden performance and relatively tolerant to cold temperatures.

Botanical designation: Gerbera hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘GARSURPRISE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gerberaplant, botanically known as Gerbera hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Garsurprise’.

The new Gerbera plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new compact garden Gerbera plantswith numerous attractive inflorescences, resistant to cold temperaturesand good garden performance.

The new Gerbera plant originated from a cross-pollination made duringthe spring of 2010 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands of a proprietaryselection of Gerbera hybrida identified as code number 09T163, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofGerbera hybrida identified as code number 05T124, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Gerbera plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environmentin De Kwakel, The Netherlands during the summer of 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Gerbera plant by cuttings in acontrolled environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands since the summer of2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Gerbera plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Gerbera have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Garsurprise’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Garsurprise’ as a new and distinct Gerberaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Dense and bushy appearance.    -   3. Numerous inflorescences with dark red purple-colored ray        florets.    -   4. Upright and strong scapes.    -   5. Good garden performance and relatively tolerant to cold        temperatures.

Plants of the new Gerbera differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gerbera have slightly larger inflorescences        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Gerbera and the female parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent        selection have red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Gerbera differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gerbera have slightly smaller        inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Gerbera and the male parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent        selection have purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Gerbera can be compared to plants of the Gerberahybrida ‘Gardreams’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,636. Plants ofthe new Gerbera differ from plants of ‘Gardreams’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Gerbera have more ray        florets than inflorescences of plants of ‘Gardreams’.    -   2. Plants of the new Gerbera and ‘Gardreams’ differ in ray        floret apex shape as ray florets of ‘Gardreams’ have broadly        acute to obtuse apices.    -   3. Plants of the new Gerbera and ‘Gardreams’ differ slightly in        ray floret color as plants of ‘Gardreams’ have lighter red        purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Gerbera plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Gerbera plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Garsurprise’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 15-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices typical of commercial garden Gerberaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 10° C. to 16° C. and night temperatures averaged 10° C. Plants weresix months old when the photographs were taken and 17 weeks old when thedescription was taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Gerbera hybrida ‘Garsurprise’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gerbera            hybrida identified as code number 09T163, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gerbera            hybrida identified as code number 05T124, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings and by tissue culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, by cuttings, summer and            winter.—About 3.5 weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, by tissue culture, summer and            winter.—About 2.5 to 3 weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, by cuttings, summer            and winter.—About 3.5 weeks at temperatures about 20° C. to            26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, by tissue culture,            summer and winter.—About five to six weeks at temperatures            about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous perennials that are typically grown            as container or garden plants; compact and uniformly            mounding plant habit, broadly upright and roughly globular            in shape; numerous leaves arranged in basal rosettes and            outwardly arching; dense and bushy habit; inflorescences            held above the foliar plane on erect and strong basal            scapes; low vigor to moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 21.1            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescences.—About            30.6 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 49.3 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 22.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 9 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate; runcinate to panduriform; slightly            curved.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Coarsely and irregularly angulate; sinuses            divergent; undulate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent along main vein.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Densely tomentose.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between            141B and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            between 138B and N138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 144A to 144B.            Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, close to N144D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 6.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Texture, upper surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture, lower            surface: Moderately to densely pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A;            proximally tinged with close to 177C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Composite inflorescence form with            oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; solitary inflorescences            borne on upright and strong scapes and held above the foliar            plane; ray and disc florets arranged acropetally on a            capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three months            after planting; under garden conditions in The Netherlands,            plants flower from early spring to late summer; plants can            be flowered year-round in the greenhouse.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Depending on the temperature,            inflorescences last about two to four weeks on the plant;            inflorescences not persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit with            about eleven open and developing inflorescences per plant at            one time.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About            2 cm. Shape: Flattened ovate. Color: Close to 143C; immature            ray florets, close to 150C; towards the apex, close to            N170C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.8 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.6 cm. Diameter of disc: About 2.4 cm. Receptacle            height: About 5 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 4 mm.        -   Receptacle color.—Close to NN155B.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 110 per            inflorescence arranged in about three whorls. Orientation:            About 55° from vertical. Length: About 4 cm. Width: About            9 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Emarginate to praemorse.            Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety; longitudinally ridged. Texture,            lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;            longitudinally ridged. Color: When opening, upper surface:            Close to 64B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 145C.            Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 70A; color becoming            closer to 71B and apex, close to 71D, with development.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 145C to 145D tinged            with close to 182D; color does not change with development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 200 massed at            center of receptacle. Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About            3.5 mm. Shape: Tubular with upper two lobes free at the            apex. Apex: Obtuse; upper 40%, free. Base: Lower 60%, fused.            Margin, free lobes: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, prior to opening: Apex:            Close to 157A. Mid-section and base: Close to 157D. Color,            when opening: Apex: Close to NN155A strongly tinged with            close to 63C to 63D. Mid-section: Close to 155C. Base: Close            to 157D. Color, fully opened: Apex: Close to NN155A strongly            tinged with close to 63D. Mid-section: Close to 155C. Base:            Close to 157D.        -   Pappus.—Quantity of hairs per floret: About 50. Length:            About 7.5 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Texture: Soft.            Color: Close to 183D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity and arrangement: About 60 per            inflorescence arranged in about three whorls. Length: About            1.4 cm. Width (at base): About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower            surface: Moderately tomentose. Color, upper surface: Close            to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 143C.        -   Scapes.—Length: About 26.1 cm. Diameter: Proximally, about 6            mm; distally, about 4 mm. Angle: About 10° from vertical.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Densely tomentose. Color:            Proximally, close to 144B tinged with close to 199A;            distally, close to 143A to 143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on disc florets            only): Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About            7 mm. Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther shape:            Lanceolate. Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther color: Close            to 11A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 15A.            Gynoecium (present only on ray florets): Quantity per            floret: One. Pistil length: About 1.25 cm. Stigma shape:            Cleft. Stigma color: Close to 155A. Style length: About            1.15 cm. Style color: Close to NN155A moderately tinged with            close to 76B. Ovary color: Close to 155A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Gerbera.-   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Gerbera plants has not been observed on plants of the new Gerbera    grown under commercial production conditions.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Gerbera have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate high temperatures about    35° C. and to be cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 7.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Gerbera plant named ‘Garsurprise’as illustrated and described.